Shoe-stretcher.



A. MARCHETTI.

SHOE STRETCHEH.

ATloN r1 D APPL i918. 1 ,28%, 1 98 Panwd Nov. 191s.

ANTONIOMARCHETTI, OF TAMPA, FLORIDA.

SHOE-STRETCHER.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

Application filed May 24, 1918. Serial No, 236,420.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTONIO MARCHETTI, a subject of the King of Italy, and resident of Tampa, in the county of Hillsborough and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful improvements in ShoeStretchers, of which the following is a specification, reterence being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The general object of this invention is to provide a shoe stretcher in which the same operating devices may be used to stretch a shoe either lengthwise 0r sidewise, or both.

1n the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view 'of the apparatus, parts being broken away to show construction.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same apparatus, parts being removed to expose the internal mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1.

Fig. l shows the front portion of the body ot' the stretcher looking toward the toe.

Fig. 5 is a section showing the front portion of the body as in Fig. 2, but with working parts removed.

In these views, A represents the forward portion of a last-like body of the stretcher and B a coacting heel portion. rlhe part A is divided longitudinally and vertically and the halves 6, 6 are connected in the rear by a hinge 7. 1n the heel portion B is rigidly iiXed a horizontal bar 8 sliding in a way 8 on the member 6 and provided on its upper side with a series of notches 9 to receive a plate or pawl 10 sliding vertically in a way 11 at the rear of the member 6', the plate being held against accidental movement by a spring 12.

A plate 13 iiXed on the heel member 13 carries a swiveled nut 1li in which works a threaded rod 15 provided with a handle 16 and downwardly inclined toward the toe, as shown. r1`his rod extends into the forward member and carries upon its forward end a wedge shaped plate 17 in which the forward non-threaded end of the rod 15 rotates without advance. The wedge member lies in registering recesses 16 in the halves 6, 6 and normaliy its forward edges Afit against the lateral walls 19 of the recesses 16, respectively. bviously, ift the wedgebe advanced it will 'torce the members 6, 6 apart, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. ln order that the parts may be restored to initial position when the wedge is retracted, the wedge is provided with at least onemarginal lug 2O which normally projects into an inclined way 21 in the broader wall of the recess 18. Upon the rod 15 and Within the member A is a loosely fitting sleeve 22 from the opposite sides of which arms 23 project into apertures 24, respectively, near the rear end of the member A. The arms yand apertures are such that while the arms assist in holding the members 6, 6 in the same plane, they do not prevent relative movement of these members about the hinge axis. In this sleeve works a screw 25 having a milled head and serving to lock the screw 15 against undesired rotation.

In use, the screw 25 and plate 10 are retracted, the heel member is moved nearly to the member A, and the two members are inserted in a shoe. Rotation of the rod 12 forces the members A and B apart applying all desirable longitudinal stretching force to the shoe before material lateral force is exerted. rlhe plate 10 is then pushed into one of the notches 9 locking the parts A. and B together. Further rotation of the rod 15 pushes the wedge Jfoiwvard and separates the members 6, 6 as already suggested` the screw 25 serving to lock the rod 15 until it is de# sired to release it.

As the wedge is thus advanced the lug 2O moves along in the way 21 in which it fits rather loosely. The screw 25 and plate 10 being retracted when desired, withdrawing rotation of the rod retracts the wedge and the lug 20 in moving rearward along the way 21 swings the corresponding member inward and bringing 6 and 6 together as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. It is plain that the shoe may be stretched longitudinally, and that it the plate 10 be advanced at the outset lateral stretching only may be secured, and further that if the lplate 10 be not engaged with the bar 8 both longitudinal and lateral force may be applied together.

The swiveled nut 14 preferably has a short shaft giving a somewhat long bearing 27.

The construction is such that the heel B and its horizontal bar 8 may be moved outward until the bar is tree rom the member A, and the members 6, 6 may be swung apa-rt freeing the arms 23 and exposing the wedge plate and its connections, all without detaching the wedge from its rod. or the 2. In a shoe stretcher, the combination with a vertically divided mainA body portion, of a heel portion bearing a pivoted nut, a downwardly and forwardly inclined threaded rod working in said nut extending into said body portion and bearing a swiveled wedge for spreading the body portion, a rigid bar projecting from one portion and sliding in'a way in the other portion, and means for locking the bar against sliding.

3. In a shoe stretcher,`the combination with a forward vertically divided body having its halves hinged together at their rear ends and provided with an interior wedge-receiving recess, of a rear heel portion having above an inclined swiveled nut and provided with a rigid bar extending into a Way in the divided body, a pawl movable into and out of engagement with said bar to lock it, an inclined threaded rod working in said nut and extending into the recess in the divided body, a wedge revolubly mounted upon the inner.end of. said rod, a sleeve loosely encircling that portion of the rod within the'divided body and provided with arms extending into recesses in the parts of the divided body, and a set-screw working in said sleeve for locking the rod.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature.

ANTONIO MARCHETTI. 

